Archive for March, 2010
Odesnik pleads guilty to importing HGH, facing ban
Tennis newsWayne Odesnik faces a ban from tennis after pleading guilty in an Australian court on Friday to importing human growth hormone into the country. The 24-year-old American was stopped by customs officers on Jan. 2 as he arrived in Australia ahead of the Brisbane International and Australian Open, and eight vials, each containing 6 milligrams [...]
Venus starts off with victory at Key Biscayne
Tennis newsVenus Williams said she looked “solid” in her opening match at the Sony Ericsson Open, a rather drab adjective considering she played in a red corset. It was more like an eye-popping victory. Williams began a bid for a fourth Key Biscayne title and her first since 2001 by beating Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 Thursday [...]
Henin eases into second round at Key Biscayne
Tennis newsJustine Henin advanced to the second round of the Sony Ericsson Open by beating Jill Craybas 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday. Henin double-faulted five times Wednesday and struggled with inconsistent groundstrokes. But she saved seven of eight break points while converting five of six. The 33rd-ranked Henin, a former No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion, [...]
Serena honored as 2009 WTA Tour Player of the Year
Tennis newsWorld No. 1 Serena Williams won the 2009 WTA Tour Player of the Year award and also took the Doubles Team of the year honors with sister Venus at a ceremony held at the Sony Ericsson Open on Wednesday. Serena Williams, wearing high heels despite a knee injury, was all smiles when picking up her [...]
Four-time Queen’s Club champ Roddick joins tuneup field
Tennis newsAndy Roddick will get ready for Wimbledon by attempting to win his fifth Queen’s title. The Queen’s Club announced Roddick’s participation on Wednesday. Rafael Nadal and U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro will also play in the tournament. The eighth-ranked Roddick says the grasscourt tournament is “a great way to prepare” for Wimbledon. Roddick [...]
Cirstea wins in straight sets in Key Biscayne
Tennis newsSorana Cirstea of Romania defeated wild-card Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal 7-5, 7-6 (9) at the Sony Ericsson Open on Tuesday and earned a second-round match with Venus Williams. The 40th-ranked Cirstea has never played either Williams sister. Cirstea staved off six set points of Larcher De Brito’s to win the match. Petra Kvitova [...]
Federer, Kuznetsova top-seeded for Key Biscayne
Tennis newsRoger Federer and Svetlana Kuznetsova are the top seeds for the Sony Ericsson Open. The 13-day tournament begins Tuesday with unseeded women in action. Seeded players have a first-round bye, and Federer plays his opening match Saturday night. The draw was held Monday, and No. 2-seeded Novak Djokovic and No. 4 Rafael Nadal landed in [...]
French Open needs new or better venue, official says
Tennis newsThe French tennis federation says the French Open needs to get bigger or move from its historic site if it wants to stay competitive with the three other Grand Slam tournaments. Gilbert Ysern, the general director of the federation, said Monday the relocation of the tournament was reviewed and that a decision could be made [...]
Ljubicic, Jankovic both claim titles at Indian Wells
Tennis newsIvan Ljubicic had been in big finals before and always lost. Then getting beat in the first round in five consecutive tournaments last year had him thinking about doing something else. “I had my problems, like everybody else,” he said. All that was forgotten Sunday when the Croatian outlasted Andy Roddick 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) [...]
Roddick, Ljubicic to battle for Indian Wells title
Tennis newsAndy Roddick took his beat-up body back home after losing in San Jose and Memphis last month. A couple weeks of workouts, practice, massage and chiropractic treatments later, he got his groove back. Roddick outlasted Robin Soderling 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Saturday to make the BNP Paribas Open final for the first time after failing [...]
